Business Ethics Flash Card Test 1
Flashcard 1
Q: What is Utilitarianism? A: The ethical theory that the morally right action is the one that maximizes overall happiness.
Flashcard 2
Q: What are the core principles of Utilitarianism? A: Consequentialism, Hedonism, Egalitarianism.
Flashcard 3
Q: What is Hedonic Act Utilitarianism? A: Evaluates each action based on how much pleasure it produces.
Flashcard 4
Q: What is Rule Utilitarianism? A: Follows rules that generally lead to the greatest happiness.
Flashcard 5
Q: What is Kantian Ethics? A: Morality is based on rational duty and treating people as ends in themselves.
Flashcard 6
Q: What is the Formula of Humanity? A: Always treat humanity, in yourself and others, as an end and never merely as a means.
Flashcard 7
Q: What is the Universalizability Test? A: Act only on maxims you could will to be universal laws.
Flashcard 8
Q: What is Virtue Ethics? A: Morality is about cultivating good character traits (virtues).
Flashcard 9
Q: What is “Selfless perception of the Good”? A: Iris Murdoch’s idea that ethics involves seeing beyond the ego to perceive moral truth.
Flashcard 10
Q: What is Pragmatism in ethics? A: Ethics must evolve with society and be grounded in lived experience.
Flashcard 11
Q: What is the “Social Organism” idea? A: Society functions like a body—each part must work for the whole.
Flashcard 12
Q: What’s the difference between an abstract individual and a social being? A: Abstract individuals are isolated; social beings are shaped by context and relationships.
🧩 Key Concepts
Flashcard 13
Q: What is a moral syllogism? A: A logical structure: moral principle + fact = moral conclusion.
Flashcard 14
Q: What is intrinsic value? A: Something valuable in itself (e.g., happiness, personhood).
Flashcard 15
Q: What is instrumental value? A: Something valuable as a means to an end (e.g., money).
Flashcard 16
Q: What is an ethical theory? A: A framework for determining what is morally right or wrong.
🧠 Arguments & Objections
Flashcard 17
Q: Why do utilitarians think their theory is true? A: Because happiness is the only thing intrinsically valuable.
Flashcard 18
Q: What’s a Kantian argument for ethics? A: Personhood has intrinsic value; reason is universal.
Flashcard 19
Q: What’s a virtue ethics argument? A: Ethics is indefinable and rooted in character and perception.
Flashcard 20
Q: What’s a pragmatist argument? A: Ethics must reflect our social nature and lived experience.
Flashcard 21
Q: What’s an objection to utilitarianism? A: It can justify unjust actions if they increase happiness.
Flashcard 22
Q: What’s an objection to Kantian ethics? A: It’s too rigid—e.g., lying is always wrong, even to save a life.
Flashcard 23
Q: What’s an objection to virtue ethics? A: Luck of upbringing and vagueness of “the Good.”
Flashcard 24
Q: What’s an objection to pragmatism? A: It’s open-ended and lacks clear moral rules. Flashcard A1
Q: What’s the argument that utilitarianism is true? A: Happiness is the only thing intrinsically valuable, so maximizing it is the moral goal.
Flashcard A2
Q: What’s the argument for Kantian ethics based on personhood? A: People have intrinsic value as rational beings, so we must treat them as ends, not mere means.
Flashcard A3
Q: What’s the argument for Kantian ethics based on reason? A: Rationality is universal, so moral laws must be based on principles all rational beings can will.
Flashcard A4
Q: What’s the argument for virtue ethics based on the indefinability of the Good? A: Ethics can’t be reduced to rules—it’s rooted in perception and experience of moral reality.
Flashcard A5
Q: What’s the argument that ethics requires trained perception? A: Moral insight comes from cultivated virtues, which shape how we perceive and respond ethically.
Flashcard A6
Q: What’s the argument for virtue ethics based on character? A: Most moral decisions stem from character, not abstract reasoning—so ethics must develop virtues.
Flashcard A7
Q: What’s the argument for pragmatism based on social nature? A: People aren’t isolated individuals—we’re shaped by society, so ethics must reflect social context.
Flashcard A8
Q: What’s the “social organism” argument for pragmatism? A: Society functions like a body—each part must work together, so ethics must promote collective well-being.
Flashcard A9
Q: What’s the pragmatist critique of rights-based ethics? A: Rights alone are inadequate—ethics must be grounded in lived experience and empathy.